Plate finishing and cooling machine.



W. EVENSEN.

PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 3, 1914. 1,126,740. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTOLITHO.. WASHINGmN, 0. c

W. EVENSBN.

PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1914.

1,126,740. Patented Feb. .2, 1915.

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W. EVENSEN.

PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED'JUNE 3, 1914.

1,126,740. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHDTO-LITHO, WASHINOION, D. C

W. EVENSEN. PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1914. v

Patented Feb. 2,1915.

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WIT STATES PATEN FFIGE.

\VILLIAM EVENSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE.

aegan.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed June 3, 1914. Serial No. 842,591.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM EvnNsnN, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate Finishing and Cooling Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to plate finishing and cooling machines of the type employing a. rotatable shell or drum for carrying a printing plate into operative engagement with means for shaving the ribs on the inner face of the plate and for severing the tail and trimming the ends of the plate.

it is one of the objects of my invention to provide a new and improved plate-stopping device which is adapted to stop the plate in proper position when pushed into the drum for the trimming and shaving operation.

It is one of the more specific objects of my i vention to provide a platestoppi.ng device of this type adapted to be moved into operative position by the sliding of the plate into the shell and adapted to be held in operative position by the engagement of the riser or the tail of the plate therewith, the plate-stopping device being adapted to be withdrawn from the path of the plate upon the withdrawal of the tail or riser therefrom.

It is another object of my invention to provide new and improved means for withdrawing a finished plate from the finishing drum and transfer-rim it into position to be cooled, to be later moved thereby out of the machine ready for use on a press.

It is one of the more detailed objects of invention to provide a transferring device of the type described adapted to cooperate with the plate-stopping device for preventing the engagement of a plate thereby except when the plate has been finished and unlocked from the drum.

It is another object of my invention to provide improved means for actuating the transferring devices.

It is another object of my invention to improve machines of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings: Figure 1 indicates a central vertical section through a plate finishing and cooling machine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a transverse sec tion through my improved machine, certain of the parts being indicated diagrammatically by dotted lines, the view being substantially a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rotary drum and the parts carried thereby, with the plate-locking means in locking position and with the drum about ready to start in rotation; Fig. f is a fragmentary view, showing the action of the cam carried by the drum rotating gear for unlocking the plate; Fig. 5 is substantially a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3, showing the drum and a part of the means for locking the plate in the drum and the means for starting the drum in rotation; Fig. 6 is a detail, being fragmentary View taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a detail Sl10-\ ing the construction of the two-part shifting bar employed for starting the drum in rotation; Fig. 8 is .a diagrammatic view illustrating in solid lines the manner in v eration of the machine shortly after the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing in solid lines the position of the parts when the transferring device is ready to start rearward after having positioned the plates, and showing in dotted lines the position of the transferring device at about the limit of its movement to the rear, and showing the cooperation of the plate-stopping means therewith for preventing the gripping of a plate.

Referringto the several figures of the drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 20 indicates a frame having revolubly mounted thereon a drum 21. Revolubly mounted upon the drum 21 is a gear 22 adapted to be connected as hereinafter deof a worm 23 mounted upon a shaft 24 which is driven by means of beveled gears 2526 from a shaft 27. The shaft 27 in turn is driven by a gear 28 meshing with another gear 29 mounted upon a shaft 30 which is driven, in the construction shown, by means, of an electric motor 31 mounted upon a bracket 32 supported by the framework 20. we 1 33 indicates an idler-gear meshing with the gear 28 and with a gear 34 mounted upon a shaft 35 upon which is fixed a plate cooling brush 36 of any suitable type over which a printing plate is adapted to he slid along any suitable slideways. Mounted upon the shaft 30 is a sprocket-gear 37 connected by means of a sprocket-chain 38 with a sprocket-gear 39 mounted upon a shaft '40 upon which are mounted revoluble cutters 41-42 adapted to engage a printing plate carried by the drum 21 for cutting off the tail or riser from one end of the plate and for properly trimming the opposite end of the plate, the cutters 4142 being inclosed by suitable housings 4344. Located rearwardly of the drum 21 is a standard 45 upon which a plate is adapted to be positioned ready to be pushed into the drum 21 with its edges resting upon ribs 46-47 mounted upon the inner face of the drum,

said ribs 46-47 when in normal position being in alinement not only with the standard 45, but also with the slide rails along which the plate is adapted to be slid to cooling position as above set forth. EX- tending into the drum 21 from the front end thereof is a bracket 48 provided with plate guides 495O adapted to guide the plate as it is pushed into the drum upon the ribs 46 47. Also carried by the bracket 48 are a mangler 51 and a shaving knife 52.

. Mounted adjacent to the rib 47 in the manner hereinafter described is ashield 53 adapted to protect the plate-locking devices against the accumulation of shavings or chips therein. No claim is made herein for the mangler 51 or the shield 53 inasmuch'as these devices are the invention of Joseph J. lValser covered by his application for patent thereon, filed June 3, 1914, Serial No. 842,579. a

5455 indicate levers connected by a link 56, the lever 55 being provided at its lower end with a roller 57 adapted normally to stand in the path of a plate in its movement out of the drum 21., the mechanism as a whole constituting a plate-stopping device adapted to prevent the insertion of a plate into the drum at one end while another plate is being removed therefrom at the other end. No claim is made to this device herein inasmuch as it is the invention of Samuel G. Goss covered by his application for patent thereon, filed June 3, 1914, Serial No. 842,587:

Inasmuch as the parts so far described form no part of themselves of my invention it is believed that it is unnecessary to further describe them or their operation herein.

Coming now to the means for stopping the forward movement of a plate when it is being moved into the drum along the ribs 46-47, 58indicatesa standard rising from the bracket 48 at its front end having pivotally mounted thereon an arm 59, the rear end of which in the construction shown is held yieldingly down by means of a spring 60 mounted upon a pin 61 and bearing upon the upper face of the arm 59. It will be understood that the spring 60 may be omitted if desired, the weight of the arm 59 being sufficient to insure its standing in the position shown in Fig. 1. The arm 59 is provided with two lugs 62 rising therefrom supporting between them a plate'63, as best shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 10, the purpose of which plate will be set forth later herein. Pivotally connected to the rear end of the arm 59 is a lever 64 pivotally mounted at the front end of the drum upon an arm 65 rising from the bracket 48. As best shown in Fig. l, the lever 64 is turned upward at its rear end and provided with a beveled head portion 66 adapted to move up and down in a slot 67 formed in the arm 65.

68 indicates a printing plate, partly broken away in Fig. 1, in position upon the standard 45 ready to be pushed into the drum 21 upon the withdrawal of the plate 69 from the drum. The plate 68 is shown as being provided with a tail or riser 70 such as stereotype printing plates are ordinarily provided with'as is well understood in the art. It will be readily understood that when a printing plate such as 68 provided with the tail-piece 70 is pushed from the standard 45 into position upon the ribs 4647 of the drum 21 the lever 64 will have its front end raised by the engagement of the plate with the head 66 upon the rear end of the lever, serving to raise the arm 59 so as to bring the lugs 62 into position to stop the forward movement of the plate. It will be understood that when the forward end of the plate is brought opposite the forward end'of the drum the lugs 62 will still be in operative plate stopping position, being held in such position by the bearing of the tail 70 upon the head 66 of the lever 64 whereby the lugs are adapted to stop the forward movement of the plate. The proportion of the parts is such, however, that when the plate is moved upward after the tail-severing, trimming and shaving operations, and is lowered into position upon the ribs 4647, the plate-stopping device is not thereupon moved again into plate-stopping position b reason of the fact that the plate proper, with the tail re moved therefrom, does not extend far enough to the rear to engage the head 66. The plate-stopping device is accordingly seen to be effective to stop the plate in proper position when the plate is pushed into the drum for the finishing operation, but is so arranged as to offer no hincrance to the withdrawal of the plate after the plate has been finished.

Coming now to the means for locking the plate in position in the drum and for attaching the gear 22 to the drum for giving the drum a single complete rotation, 71 indicates a plate slidably mounted upon the outer face of the drum 21 provided with a lug 72 extending through a suitable slot in the wall of the drum in alinement with the rib 47 along which the printing plate is slid into position in the drum. The plate 71 is beveled at its edges and is adapted to slide between two blocks 7l 7l mounted upon the drum, the block 71 being adjustable longitudinally of the drum by means of adjusting devices 71 of any suitable type. The plate 71 has mounted upon its outer face a lug 7 3 in which is mounted a pin 7 i the free end of which extends loosely through a lug 7 5 mounted upon the drum 21, the pin 74 having mounted thereupon between the lugs 73-75 a coiled spring 76 which tends to move the plate 71 upward in the normal position of the drum, carrying the lug 72 upward relative to the rib 47, serving to lock in the drum 21 a printing plate such as the plate 69. The shield 53 hereinbefore referred to is secured in any suitable manner to the inner face of the lug 72.

Pivotally mounted upon a lug 77 carried by the block 71 is an arm 7 8 pivotally connected at its end by means of a pin 79 to an arm 80 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the plate 71. The pin 79 has mounted upon its outer end a roller 81 adapted to be contacted from the rear by an arm mounted upon a slidable shifting-bar 83 hereinafter described and adapted to be contacted on its opposite side by a cam 84 carried by a ring 85 formed with or suitably attached to the gear 22. As will be readily understood, when the roller 81 is pushed forward by means of the arm 82, the spring 7 6 is free to move the plate 71 upward,in cooperation with the action of the arm 82 serving to more the lug 72 upward to lock a plate in the drum 21. When thereafter the cam 84: in the rotation of the gear 22 contacts the roller 81 on its opposite side moving it into the position shown in Fig. 4:, the plate 71 and lug 72 are lowered releasing the plate from engagement with the drum.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the shifting-bar or slide-block 83 is mounted in a suitable bea 'ing in the framework 20, having mounted upon its rear end a handle 85*. Telescopically joined with the slide-bar or slideblock 83 is a second slide-bar 86, as best shown in Fig. 7, the slide-bar 86 being mounted at its front end in a suitable bearing upon the bracket 87 carried by the framework 20. Mounted upon the bracket 87 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a pin 88 the rear end of which passes freely through a lug 89 carried by the slide-bar 86, a spring 90 being mounted on said pin tending to hold the slide-bar 86 in its rearmost position. Pivotally mounted upon the framework 20 is a bell-crank lever 91 the horizontal arm of which is adapted to drop into a suitable groove in the slide-bar 86 when said slide-bar has been moved forward as hereinafter described.

The means for attaching the gear 22 to the drum 21 is substantially the same as that shown in the application of Robert T. Johnston, Serial No. 769,392, and no claim is made herein to the mechanism shown and described in said application. This mechanism comprises a dog 92 pivotally mounted in a suitable recess in the ring 85, as shown in Fi 2, said dog being held normally, by means of a spring 93, mounted upon the ring 85 and bearing on the dog, with its inner face in contact with the outer face of the drum 21 ready to drop into a suitable notch 94 in the face of the drum, as shown in Fig.

As will be readily understood, in the absence of any means for turning the dog 92 out of the position shown in Fig. 2, when the advance portion of the dog in the rotation of the ring 85 in clockwise direction in Fig. 2 comes in contact with the shoulder formed by the recess 94 in the drum, the drum would be caused to assume rotation with the gear 22. For the purpose of preventing the engagement of the dog 92 with the drum when desired there is provided an arm 95 pivotally mounted upon the bracket 87, provided at its lower end with a block 96 which is normally adapted to engage a hardened steel block 97 mounted upon the outer face of the dog 92 for turning the dog in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2 against the action of the spring 93, the engagement of the block 97 with the block 96 coming just at the critical time for clearing the forward end of the dog from the shoulder of the drum. The block 97 is freed from on gagement with the block 96 for the contin ued rotation of the dog 92 with the gear 22 through the medium of a nose 98 on the outer face of the dog being brought into engagement with the block 96 serving to kick the blocks 96-97 out of engagement. The

arm 95 is held normally in position so that the block 96 carried thereby will engage the block 97 carried by the dog 92 through the medium of a spring 99 carried by the bracket.

For causing a rotation of the drum 21 whenever desired by reason of the dog 92 engaging the recess 9 1 of the drum, the slide-bar 86 has revolubly mounted upon it a roller 100 adapted to stand normally in rear of the arm 95. When, however, the handle 85 is pushed forward for locking the plate in the drum through the medium of the arm 82, as hereinbe't'ore described, the roller 100 is brought into engagement with the upper end of the arm 95 swinging the arm against the action of the spring 99 so as to carry the block 96 out of the path of the block 97, as shown in Fig. 2, permitting the dog 92 to engage the drum 21 for the rotation thereof. F or bracing the slide-bar 86 and the roller 100 for the proper movement of the arm 95 a bar 101 is used, mounted upon the bracket 87 and extending rearwardly therefrom for engaging the outer face of the roller 100.

With the slide-bars 8386 in their rearmost position, with the horizontalarm of the lever 91 resting upon the upper face of the slidebar 86 and with the toggle-arms 7880 standing in the position shown in Fig. 1 holding the lug 72 in its lowered po sition, a printing plate will be pushed into the drum 21 and brought to rest therein at the proper point through the medium of the plate-stopping arm 59. As soon as the plate is properly positioned in the drum, the handle 85" will be pushed for vard by the oper ator, throwing the arms 78-80 forward through the medium of the arm 82 and the roller 81 causing the printing plate to be locked securely in the drum. At the same time the lever 91. catches in the groove in the slide-bar 86 holding the slide-bars 8886 in their advanced position against the action of the spring 90. At the same time when the plate is being locked in the drum through the medium of the arm 82, the lower end of the arm 95 is being displaced outward through the medium of the roller 100. When thereafter the dog 92 in its rotation with the gear 22 is brought opposite the recess 94- of the drum, the dog is permitted to engage the drum to cause its rotation. Shortly after the beginning of the rotation of the drum a cam or lug 102 carried thereby is brought into engagement with the vertically-extending arm of the lever 91 freeing the horizontally-extending arm of said lever from engagement with the groove in the slide-bar 86 and permitting the spring 90 to push the slide-bars 86 and 83 to the rear, permitting the lower end of the arm 95 to move inward again into position for engag ing the dog 9 Then the drum has been past the block 96 which this time operates to throw the dog out of engagementwith the drum. In order to insure the stoppage of the drum 21 at the proper point upon the re lease of the dog 92 therefrom, there is provided a bell-crank lever 103 pivotally mounted upon a standard 10 1 rising from the framework 20, said bell-crank lever carrying on the end of one of its arms a roller 105 which is adapted to engage a suitable groove in a block 106 carried by the drum. Th bell-crank lever 103 is held normally in position suchjthat the roller 105 will engage the block 106 by means of a spring 107 interposed between the lever 103 and the framework 20 upon a pin 108. Shortly after the stoppage of the drum 21 the cam 8-1 upon the continued rotation of the gear 22 is brought in contact with the roller 81 throwing the toggle-levers 7880 to the rear and serving to unlock the plate from the drum as hercinbefore described.

In case the slide-bar 83 should be pushed a suflicient distance in advance to secure a locking of the printing plate in the drum through the action of the arm 82 but not a sufiicient distance to permit the lever 91 to engage the groove in the slide-bar 86, the

slide-bars 8386 would be immediately re Q turned to their rearmost position by the spring 90 and the drum 21 would acordingly not be locked to rotate with the gear 22. The cam 8% would then engage the roller 81 and unlock the plate leaving the parts in the same condition as that in which they were before the handle 85 was pushed. In case the handle 85 should be pushed forward to the limit of its movement after the block 97 carried by the dog 92 has passed the block 96 carried by the arm 95 but before the cam 84 has passed the roller 81, the slide-bar 86 would be locked in its forward position by the lever 91, from which position it would not be released until the cam or lug 102 was carried into engagement with the lever through the rotation of the drum. Almost immediately upon the forward movement of the bar 83 under these circumstances, the

cam 84 would be brought in contact with theroller 81 pushing the roller 81 and the arm 82 to the rear and unlocking the plate in the drum, bringing the parts into the position shown in Fig. This result in made possible through the use of the two slide-bars 83-86 in place of the single slide-bar shown in the application of Johnston above referred to. After the plate has been unlocked in the manner just described, all that it is necessary to do to put the mechanism in normal condition for rotation of the drum when the dog 92 is again brought around to clutching position, is for the operator to bracket 118 rising from again push the handle 85 forward forlocking the plate in the drum through the action of the arm 82 upon the roller 81.

Coming now to the means adapted to cooperate with the plate-stopping device for withdrawing the plate from the finishing shell 21 and for moving 1t into position to be cooled, 109 indicates a shaft having mounted thereon a worm gear 110' meshing with a worm 111 mounted upon the shaft 27. Mounted upon one end a crank disk 112 having pivotally mounted thereon a connecting rod 113 pivotally connected at its upper end to one arm of a bellcrank lever 114 which is pivotally mounted upon the framework 20. Mounted upon the end of the other arm of the bellcrank lever 11 1 is a segment 115 meshing with the pinion 116 mounted upon one end of a shaft 117 revolubly mounted in a the framework 20. Mounted upon the opposite end of the shaft 117 is a gear 119 meshing with a rack-bar 120 reciprocatable back and forth through a guiding bracket 121 framework. As will be readily understood, by the rotation of the shaft 109 the bellcrank lever 11a is rocked about its pivot, rotating the shaft 117 and through the medium of the gear 119 causing the rack-bar 120 to be reciprocated back and forth in the guide 121. As best shown in Fig. 2, the connecting rod 113 is provided with an adjusting device 122 of any suitable type for adjusting the length of the rod whereby the throw of the lever 11st and the reciprocation of the rack-bar 120 can be properly reguated. v

Mounted upon the rack-bar 120 near its front end and depending therefrom is a plate 123 having mounted thereon two pivotally-mounted links 12-1125 carrying at their lower ends a jaw'126 pivotally connected thereto. The link 125 is provided with an upward extension 127 to which is pivotally connected. a pin 128 extending rearward therefrom and passing loosely hrough a lug 129 mounted on the plate123.

Mounted upon the pin 128 between the lug 129 and a suitable collar 130 carried by the pin is a spring 131 tending to move the upper end of the link 125 forward so as to carry the jaw 126 upward and to the rear relative to the plate 123, as illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 10, the movement of the pin 128 to the front being limited by a head 132 on the rear end of the pin.

As the rack-bar 120 is reciprocated back and forth through the action of the shaft 109 and the interposed connections, 126 is moved back and forth with said rackbar. When the rack-bar 120 approaches its rearmost position a cam plate 133 carried by the jaw 126 is brought into engagement with a cooperating cam 13a depending from the of the shaft 109' is supported from the the jawguide 121, serving to move the jaw 126 downward relative to the plate 123 against the action of the spring 131 into the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 8, in which position the rear hooked end of the jaw 126 extends between the lugs 62 of the platestopping device to grip a plate 135 in position in the drum, the beveled hooked end of the jaw engaging the inner face of the end rib of said plate, said jaw being adapted to yield downwardly against the action of the spring 131 to permit such engagement. Upon the forward movement of the rackbar 120' thereafter, a lug 136 rising from the forward end of the jaw 126 is brought in contact with a plate 137 in position for cooling, the rack-bar 120 thus serving to advance the plates 135-137. When the rackbar 120 approaches the limit of its movement in advance, the upper end of the link 125 is brought in contact with a block 138 mounted upon the guide 121, serving to move the jaw 126 downward relative to the plate 123 against the action of the spring 131, as illustrated in Fig. 9, withdrawing the rear end of the jaw 126 from the plate 135 which has then been moved into the position occupied by the plate 137 in Fig. 8, that is to say, in position to be cooled. Upon the further advance of the rack-bar 120 the lug 136 serves to move the plate 137 still farther in advance until the arm 127 clears the block 138 whereupon the jaw 126 is moved upward and to the rear into the position shown in Fig. 10, leaving the plate 137 in position for removal for use upon a press. As will be readily understood, upon the rearward movement of the rack-bar 120 thereafter the jaw 126 passes back in its uppermost position until it is again brought to lowered position by the interaction of the cam members 13313i after the jaw 126 has cleared the plate 135.

If'upon the return of the rack-bar 120 to its rearmost position as shown in Fig. 10, a new plate 139 has been finished and is standing in position in the drum 21 ready for withdrawal from the drum, the jaw 126 engages the plate 139, in the manner above described in connection with the plate 135, for withdrawing the plate 139 from the drum and for pushing the plate 135 out of cooling position, as shown in Fig. 10, into the position for delivery to the press in the position occupied in Figs. 9 and 10 by the plate 137. If, however, the plate 139 has just been moved into the drum and has not yet had its tail-piece or riser 7O severed therefrom, in that case the plate-stopping arm 59 will still be in its raised position, as shown in Fig. 10, in such position that the rear end of the jaw 126 passes under the plate 63 preventing the hooked end of the jaw from engaging the rib of the plate. Upon the withdrawal of the jaw 126 from the plate to remove a plate of a printing engagement with the plate 63 and upon the simultaneous disengagement ofthe cam members 133134: upon the commencement of the forward stroke of the rack-bar 120, the spring 131 serves to return the jaW 126 into the position shown in solid lines in said Fig. 10 so as tocarry the jaw 126 clear of 135 in position in the cooling mechanism; It is thus seen that the trans fer-ring mechanism does not serve normally unlessthe jaw 126 is held down by a plate being removed from the finishing shell.

No attempt has beenmade in the description of the operation of the plate transferring devices in connection With the dia- V grammatic views of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 to number the plates shown therein in accordance with the numbering of the plates in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the plate 139 of Fig. 10 may be taken to correspond to the plate 69 of Fig. 1, the plate 1 10 shown in position in Fig. 1 in the cooling dome can be taken to correspond to the plate 135 of Fig. 10, and the plate 141 of Fig. 1 can be taken to correspond to the plate 137 of Fig. 10.

In the construction shown, the movement of the rack-bar is timed so that a complete stroke of the rack-bar forward and back occupies a slightly longer period than that taken for a single complete rotation of the drum, and that is the arrangement I prefer to use, but it Will be understood that I do not restrict myself to that particular arrangement except as hereinafter specifically claimed.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for supporting a printing plate loosely in said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact With said shell and locking it in position therein, and a plate-stopping device adapted to be moved into operative plate-stopping position by the insertion of a plate in the shell but adapted to be freed from platestopping position by the locking of the plate in the shell.

2. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, ribs extending longitudinally thereof adapted to support the edges of a. printing plate pushed into the shell, means for locking said printing plate in the shell, and a plate-stopping device adapted to be moved into operative plate-stopping position by the insertion of a plate in the shell upon said ribs but adapted to be freed from plate-stopping position by the locking of the plate in the shell.

3. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, ribs extending longitudinally thereof adapted to support the edges from the cooling positionplate pushed into the shell,

means for lifting said printing plate relative to the shell and for locking it in contact With the inner face of the shell, and a plate-stopping device adapted to be moved into operative plate-stopping position by the insertion of a plate in the shell upon said ribs but adapted to be freed from platestopping position by the'lifting of the plate for looking it in the shell.

4. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for supporting a for moving said printing plate into contact With said shell and looking it in position therein, and a plate-stopping device adapted to be held in operative plate-stopping position by the tail of the plate when loosely in position in the shell before being locked therein but adapted to be freed from platestopping position by the locking of the plate in the shell.

5. In a bination of a shell, means for rotating said shell, means for supporting a printing plate loosely in said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact With said shell and locking it in position therein, means serving to cut the tail from said plate upon the rotation of said shell, and a plate-stopping device adapted to be held in operative 9 plate-stopping position by the. tail of the plate When loosely in position in the shell before being locked therein but adapted to be freed from plate-stopping position by the locking of the plate in plate upon being unlocked after the tail is cut therefrom being adapted to be returned to its original position loose in the shell Without again moving the platestopping device to plate-stopping position.

6. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for rotating said shell, ribs. extending longitudinally of the shell adapted to support the edges of a printing plate pushed into the for lifting said printing plate relative to the shell and for looking it in contact With the inner face of the shell, means serving to cut the tail from said plate upon the rotation of said shell, and a adapted to be held in operative plate-stopping position by the tail of the plate When in position upon said ribs but adapted to be freed from plate-stopping pos1t1on by the locking of the plate in the shell, said plate upon being unlocked from the shell after the tail is cut therefrom being adapted to be returned to position upon said ribs Without again moving said plate-stopping device to plate-stopping position.

In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, supports upon Which a printing plate may be slipped longitudinally into said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact With said shell from the shell shell, means i printing plate loosely in said shell,.means plate finishing machine, the com-.

plate-stopping device 1 and looking it in position therein, and a plate-stopping device adapted to stop the advance of the plate into the shell for positioning the plate, said plate-stopping device comprising a head located in rear of the shell adapted to be contacted by the plate as it is pushed into the shell for moving said plate-stopping device into operative platestopping position.

8. In a plate finishing machine, the com bination of a shell, supports upon which a printing plate may be slipped longitudinally into said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and looking it in position therein, and a platestopping device adapted to stop the advance of the plate into the shell for positioning the plate, said plate-stopping device comprising a head located in rear of the shell adapted to be contacted by the tail of the plate as it is pushed into the shell for holding the plate-stopping device in operatlve plate-stopping position.

i 9. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, supports upon which a printing plate may be slipped longitudinally into said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and looking it in position therein, and a plate-stopp 1g device adapted to stop the ad' znce of the plate into the shell for positioning the plate, said plate-stopping device comprising a head located in rear of the shell adapted to be contacted by the plate as it is pushed into the shell for moving said plate-stopping device into operative plate-stopping position, the contact of the tail of the plate with said head when the plate approaches normal position in the shell being adapted to hold the plate-stopping device in operative plate-stopping position.

10. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, supports upon which a printing plate may he slipped longitudinally j into said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and looking it in position therein, and a platestopping device adapted to stop the advance of the plate into the shell for positioning the plate, said plate-stopping device corprising a head located in rear of the shell adapted to be contacted by the plate it is pushed into the shell for moving said )latestopping device into operative plate-stopping position, the tail of the plate by contact with said head when the plate approaches normal position in the shell being adapted to hold the plate-stopping device in operative plate stopping position but being adapted to be lifted out of operative contact with said head by the locking of the plate in the shell.

11. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of shell, means for supporting a printing plate loosely in said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and locking it in position therein, and a plate stopping device pivotally mounted adjacent to the forward end of the shell adapted to be moved into operative plate-stopping position by the insertion of a plate in the shell but adapted to be freed from plate-stopping position by the locking of the plate in the shell.

12. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for supporting a printing plate loosely in said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and loc ring it in po sition therein, and a plate-stopping device pivotally mounted adjacent to the forward end of the shell adapted normally to stand out of the path of the printing plate in its travel through the shell and adapted to be moved into said path by contact of the plate and to be held in such position by the tail of the plate but adapted to be moved out of said path upon the locking of the plate in the shell.

13. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for supporting a printing plate loosely in said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and looking it in position therein, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the forward end of the shell, lugs carried by said lever adapted to engage and stop a printing plate pushed into the shell upon said supporting means when the lever is in its raised position, and means contacted by the plate in its movement into the shell along said supporting means for moving said lever into raised position.

14. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for supporting a printing plate loosely in said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and locking it in position therein, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the forward end of the shell adapted to engage and stop a printing plate pushed into the shell upon said supporting means when the lever is in its raised position, and a second lever fle iibly connected with said first-named lever adapted to be contacted by said printing plate in its movement into the shell along said supporting means for moving said first-named lever into raised position.

15. In a plate finishing mac ine, the coinhination of a shell, means for supporting a printing plate loosely in. said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and looking it in position therein, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the forward end of the shell adapted to engage and stop a printing plate pushed into the shell upon said snpport ughneans when the lever is in its raised position, and a second lever pivotally mounted at approximately the rear end of the shell and pivotally connected at its forward end with the rear end o1 said first-named lever, said second lever being adapted to be contacted by said plate in its movement into the shell along said supporting means for moving said first-named lever into raised position.

16. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for supporting a printing plate loosely in said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and looking it in position therein, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the forward end of the shell adapted to engage and stop a printing plate pushed into the shell upon said supporting means when the lever is in its raised position, and a second lever pivotally mounted at approximately the rear end of the shell and pivotally connected at its forward end with the rear end of said first-named lever, said second lever being adapted to be contacted by said printing plate in its movement into the shell along said supporting means for moving said first-named lever into raised position, and said plate being adapted to be lifted clear of said second lever by the platelocking operation.

17. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for supporting a printing plate loosely in said shell, means for moving said printing plate into contact with said shell and looking it in position therein, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent to the forward end of the shell adapted to engage and stop a printing plate pushed into the shell upon said supporting means when the lever is in its raised position, and a secondlever pivotally mounted at approximately the rear end of the shell and pivotally connected at its forward end with the rear end of said first-named lever, said second lever being adapted to be depressed by said plate in its movement into the shell along said supporting means for moving said first-named lever into raised position and being adapted to be held depressed by the contact 01 the tail of the plate therewith until the plate is locked in said shell.

18. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means coiiperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, and yielding means adapted normallyto hold said gripper out of operative position raised relative to the reciprocatory member out of the path of movement of a plate out of the shell.

19. in a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means coiiperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, yielding means adapted normally member, yielding means adapted normally to hold said gripper out of operative position raised relative to the reciprocatory member out of the path of movement of a plate out of the shell, and means automatically slice-- tive near the rearward limit of the stroke o1 said reciprocatory member for moving said gripper into operative position to engage a plate in position in the shell.

21. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, and yielding means adapted to hold said gripper for the greater portionof its stroke with said reciprocatory member out of operative position raised relative to the reciprocatory member out of the path of movement of a plate out of the shell except w 1611 the gripper is held in lowered position by its engagement with a plate.

22. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, means for lowering said gripperinto operative position near the rearward limit of the stroke of said reciprocatory member for engaging a plate, and yielding means adapted to hold said gripper out of operative position raised relative to the reciprocatory member out of the path of movement of a: plate out of the shell except when said gripper is held in lowered position by its engagement with a plate or with said gripper lowering means. 7

23. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, yielding means adapted normally to hold said gripper out of operative position, and means adapted when the gripper is being held in operative position by its engagement with a plate to engage said gripper to release it from the plate at a certain predetermined point, said releasing means being held out of engagement with said gripper when reciprocated while out of operative position.

24. In a plate finishing machine, the com bination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory memher, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, yielding means adapted normally to hold said gripper out of operative position raised relative to the reciprocatory member out of the path of movement of a plate out of the shell, and means past which said gripper moves without engaging it when the gripper is in inoperative'position but which serves when the gripper is held in operative position by its engagement with a plate to move said gripper downward to release the gripper from the plate.

25. In a plate finishing machine, the com bination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory memher, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, yielding means adapted normally to hold said gripper out of operative position raised relative to the reciprocatory member out of the path of movement of a plate out of the shell, and means for moving said gripper into operative position near the rearward limit of the stroke of said reciprocatory member for engaging a plate in position in the shell, said gripper being adapted to be held in operative position by its engagement with the plate while serving to move the plate out of the shell.

26. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, yielding means adapted normally to hold said gripper out of operative position raised relative to the reciprocatory member out of the path of movement of a plate out of the shell, and means for moving said gripper into operative position near the rearward limit of the stroke of said reciprocatory member for engaging a plate in po sition in the shell, said gripper being adapted by its movement with the reciprocatory member while being held in operative position by a plate being moved out of the shell to push ahead of it also to a still further advanced position the plate moved out of the shell by the next-preceding operative stroke of the gripper.

27. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory memher, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, yielding means adapted normally to hold said gripper out of operative position, and means for moving said gripper into operative position to engage a plate in position in the shell for moving such plate out of the shell, the engagement of the gripper with a plate in the shell serving to hold said gripper in its stroke with said reciprocatory member in position to engage and push ahead of it to a still further advanced position the plate moved out of the shell by the next-preceding stroke of the gripper.

28. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said. shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory memher, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, yielding means adapted normally to hold said gripper out of operative position, means for moving said gripper into operative position near the rearward limit of the stroke of said reciprocatory member for engaging a plate in position in the shell, and means for preventing the engagement of said gripper with said plate until said plate has been finished and unlocked from the shell.

29. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, yielding means adapted normally to hold said gripper out of operative position, means for moving said gripper into operative position near the rearward limit of the stroke of said reciprocatory member for engaging a plate in position in the shell. and means for preventing the engagement of said gripper with said plate while the plate is in the shell before having the tail severed therefrom.

30. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell. means cofiperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell. a reciprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, yielding means adapted normally to hold said gripper out of operative posi tion, means for moving said gripper into operative position near the rearward limit of the stroke of said reciprocatory member for engaging a plate in position in the shell, and means actuated by engagement with the tail of a plate positioned loosely in said shell for preventing the engagement of said gripper therewith.

31. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for stopping a printing plate in its movement into the shell, means cofiperating with said shell for finishing said printing plate, a reciprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, and means carried by said plate-stopping means for preventing the engagement of said gripper with said plate before having the tail severed therefrom.

32. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for stopping a printing plate in its movement into the shell, means cofiperating with said shell for finishing said printing plate, a reoiprocatory member, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member, and a plate carried by said platestopping means actuated by the tail of the printing plate to deflect said gripper away from said printing plate. 7

33, In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for stopping a printing plate in its movement into the shell, means actuated by the rotation of said shell for finishing said printing plate, rotary means for intermittently driving said shell, a constantly driven reciprocatory member adapted to be given a stroke back and forth in a slightly longer time than that in which said rotary driving means is given a complete rotation, at gripper carriedby said reciprocatory member adapted to be reciprocated therewith for moving said printing plate out of said shell, the rotation, of the shell .by said rotary driving means being timed to bring the gripper toward the shell at the proper time to grip the plate after it is finished and unlocked from the shell, and means for preventing the engagement of the gripper with a plate in position in the shell nntil after the plate has been finished and unlocked from the shell.

In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means for stopping a printing plate in its movement into the shell, means actuated by the rotation of said shell for finishing said printing plate, rotary, means for intermittently driving said shell, a constantly driven reciprocatory member adapted to be given a stroke back and forth in a slightly longer time than that in which said rotary driving means is given a complete rotation, a gripper carried by said reciprocatory member adapted to be reoiprocated therewith for moving said printing plate out of said shell, the rotation of theshell by said rotary driving means being timed-to bring the gripper toward the shell at the proper time to grip the plate after it is finished and unlocked from the shell, and

-means carried by said plate-stopping means adapted to prevent engagement of the gripperwith a printing plate looselyin position in the shell before the finishing operation.

; 35, In a plate finishing machine,the combination of a shell, means for stopping a printing plate in its movement into the shell, means actuated by the rotation of said shell for finishing said printing plate, rotarv means for intermittently driving said shell, 7 a constantly driven reciprocatory member adapted to be given a stroke back and forth in a slightly longer time than that in which said rotary driving means is given a complete rotation, at gripper carried by said reciprocatory member adapted to be reciprocated therewith for moving said printi s: Pl o a dsl e the rota i n o the'shell by'said rotary driving means being timedto bring the gripper toward the shell atthe proper time to grip the plate after it is finished and unlocked from the shell, and means'carried by said plate-stopping means actuated by the engagement therewith o f the" tail of an unfinished plate in position in the shell to prevent engagement of the gripper with the plate.

36. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a'printing plate in position in the shell, areciprocatory member, links pivotally connected with said reciprocatory member, a gripper-jaw pivotally connected with the lower ends of said ber, two links of equal length pivotally con nected with said reciprocatory member, a gripper-jaw pivotally connected. f'with the lower ends of said links with the links in position parallel to each other, said gripperjaw being adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the reciprocatory member in horizontal position by the swingingv of said links, and a spring tending to hold said links in turned position to hold said grip per-jaw in raised position. i

38. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a'shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reoiprocatory member, linkspivotally connected with said re ciprocatory member, a gripper-jaw pivotally connected with the lower ends of said links adapted to be raised and lowered rel 'ative to the reciprocatory member by the swinging of said links, a spring tending to hold said links in turned position to hold said gripper-jaw in raised position, and a cam adapted to engage sa d gripperaw position. I I v 39. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating'with said shell for finishing aprinting plate in, position in the-shell, a reciprocatory member, links pivotally connected with said reciprocatory member, a gripper-jaw pivotally connected with the lower ends of said links adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the :reciprocatory member by the swingingof said links, a spring tending to hold said link's in turned position to hold said gripper-jaw in raisedv position, and

means-ada d to nsa'gas id gripper-jaw near therearward limit of its'movement for near the rearward limit of its movement for forcing said aw downward into operatlve' forcing said jaw downward into operative position to engage a printing plate in position in said shell, the engagement of the printing plate with said jaw serving to hold a the jaw in lowered position.

40. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, links pivotally connected with said reciprocatory member, a gripper-jaw pivotally connected with the lower ends of said links adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the reciprocatory member by the swinging of said links, a spring tending to hold said links in turned position to hold said gripper-jaw in raised position, means adapted to engage said gripper-jaw near the rearward limit of its movement for forcing said jaw downward into operative position to engage a printing plate in position in said shell, the engagement of the printing plate with said jaw serving to hold the jaw in lowered operative position, and means near the forward limit of the movement of said jaw adapted to depress said aw for releasing it from the printing plate.

41. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, links pivotally connected with said reciprocatory member, a gripper-jaw pivotally connected with the lower ends of said links adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the reciprocatory member by the swinging of said links, a spring tending to hold said links in turned position to hold said gripper-jaw in raised position, means adapted to engage said gripper-jaw near the rearward limit of its movement for forcing said jaw downward into operative position to engage a printing plate in position in said shell, the engagement of the printing plate with said jaw serving to hold the jaw in lowered operative position, means near the forward limit of the movement of said jaw adapted to depress said jaw for releasing it from the printing plate, said gripper-jaw being adapted when held in its raised position to move past said depressing means without engaging it.

42. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory mem ber, links pivotally connected with said reciprocatory member, a gripper-jaw pivotally connected with the lower ends of said links adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the reciprocatory member by the swinging of said links, a spring tending to hold said links in turned position to hold said gripper-jaw in raised position, an arm mounted on one of said links and extending above the pivotal mounting of said link on said reciprocatory member, means adapted to engage said gripper-jaw near the rearward limit of its movement for forcing said jaw downward into operative position to engage a printing plate in position in said shell, the engagement of the printing plate with said jaw serving to hold the jaw in lowered operative position, and a block adapted to be engaged by the arm carried by said link when the jaw is being held in operative position by its engagement with a printing plate for turning said link against the action of said spring for releasing the jaw from the printing plate.

43. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating with said shell for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member, links pivotally connected with said reciprocatory member, a gripper-j aw pivotally connected with the lower ends of said links adapted to be raised and lowered rela tive to the reciprocatory member by the swinging of said links, aspring tending to hold said links in turned position to hold said gripper-jaw in raised position, an arm mounted on one of said links and extending above the pivotal mounting of said link on said reciprocatory member, means adapted to engage said gripper-jaw near the rearward limit of its movement for forcing said jaw downward into operative position to engage a printing plate in position in said shell, the engagement of the printing plate with said jaw serving to hold the jaw in lowered operative position, and a block adapted to be engaged by the arm carried' by said link when the jaw is being held in operative position by its engagement with a printing plate for turning said link against the action of said spring for releasing the jaw from the printing plate, said spring being adapted to hold the link normally in turned position whereby the arm will be moved past said block without engaging it.

44. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating there with for finishing a printing plate in position in the shell, a reciprocatory member for moving said plate out of said shell, and means for driving said reciprocatory member, said driving means comprising a rackbar slidably mounted relative to said shell, a gear meshing with said rack-bar, a pinion rotatable with said gear, a toothed bellcrank lever meshing with said pinion, a continuously-driven crank, and a connecting rod for connecting said bell-crank lever with said crank for actuating said lever.

45. In a plate finishing machine, the combination of a shell, means cooperating therewith for finishing a printing plate in posimoving phi? out di iid Vbr, said driving meja'r l CQIHPLiSiI Ig a me];- bar slid-ably mounted 1561atifi7efofisbjdshell,

a? gear meshing with saidjri ick-bm gki;pinidn rotatable W1th szud ggm', a toothed bellcrank lever meshmg w th 331d pinion, a; 00 1 1- Cppi es qf this patgnfq may be obtained for; five ppts eggh .tjl giqogslyc lrimn cJra fln ki, and an. adjustable ,d fol? connecting saidbell- 10 s 59 c l an lgleve n with szqd, crank 01 actuat 1ngaml l-w n bx. g im i u h f mi fl nc of nts 

